POTD: If At First You Don’t Succeed – The McClean Automatic Rifle
Sam.S 03.20.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! In the years after World War I, prolific inventor Samuel McClean continued his efforts to develop a successful automatic rifle design. His 1918-1919 prototype, while less complex than earlier water-cooled versions, still employed an unconventional operating system derived from his prior auto-cannon work. It featured a pair of triggers for semi and full-auto fire and a unique circular drum magazine that surrounded the receiver. The rifle had to be inserted through the center of this drum which interfaced with a ratcheting feed system.
The operating mechanism used McClean’s interrupted multi-lug rotating bolt, locked by dozens of small lugs on the bolt body. A large gas piston under the barrel provided the automation. In May 1919, the U.S. Navy tested this McClean automatic rifle prototype, though it garnered no interest with the M1918 BAR already adopted. The incomplete example shown is potentially the sole survivor.
“When Samuel McClean failed to interest the Army or Navy in his automatic cannon, he instead worked with Lieutenant Colonel O.M. Lissak to develop a man portable machine gun that could be fired from the shoulder. The design eventually turned into the Lewis gun when the McClean-Lissak patents were given to Colonel Lewis for review and use. Ultimately, General Crozier opposed the design due to his dislike of any weapon that was not developed in an ordnance facility, so Colonel Lewis went to Belgium and manufactured arms under the Armes Automatiques Lewis, thus producing the Lewis gun. This parts kit is one of the McClean machine guns that has been expertly cut to both deactivate the gun while demonstrating the inner workings. The barrel and gas tube are knurled for their entire length, with a wooden foregrip attached to the gas tube and barrel via bracket. There is a sling swivel hole on the rear wood stock. CONDITION: Overall very good with a mixture of grey and brown patina, particularly at the high point of the receiver. Wood is original with numerous nicks and dings. There is evidence of welding and saw cutting incidental to deactivation. This is an important and historic piece of automatic arms development, as well as of American gunmaking. “
LOT #1158:A RARE AND HISTORIC PROTOTYPE MCCLEAN MACHINE GUN PARTS KIT. (n.d.). Morphy Auctions. photograph. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/a_rare_and_historic_prototype_mcclean_machine_gun_-lot475608.aspx.
